2011 MHS Programs/Events

(updated August 15, 2011)


The following events and programs are scheduled for 2011. More details will be posted as they become available. These events are intended to be part of the overall celebration of the 250th year of the chartering of Manchester in 1761. Except the May 22 fundraiser, all programs are free. All events are open to the public

January 14 7:00PM at Northshire Book Store Michael Bellesiles will speak on the founding of Vermont and of the New Hampshire Grants settlers who fought for the independence of Vermont in the 1700s. He teaches history at Central Connecticut State University and his book Revolutionary Outlaws: Ethan Allen and the Struggle for Independence on the Early American Frontier" was chosen best book of the year by the American Revolution Roundtable.

February 16 7PM Barbara Keough,will speak on the history of the Manchester Health Services and provide a tour of facility. Manchester Health Services was esatablished in 1942 as Manchester Welfare and Nursing. By changing its name, enlarging its staff and offering more programs it has evolved into the areas local Medicare Certified Visiting Nurse Association. The program will present the organizations history and what it does for the community today. Free. At Manchester Health Sevices

March 16 John Griffith will speak on the CCC Camps in the Manchester area. 7 PM First Congregational Church, Manchester. Free

April 20 7PM Celebration of the Manchester Journal's 150 year of publication. Join the fun. Old issues. Special guests. 7PM First Congregation Church 7PM Free

May 18 7 PM Professor Gerald W. McFarland will give a presentation on the true story of the Boorn-Colvin murder case in the early 1800s in Manchester. It has been said this was the first wrongfull murder conviction in the US. McFarland's book on this murder, The Counterfeit Man, is available at the Northshire bookstore and describes many places in Manchester. Location: NORTHSHIRE BOOKSTORE. 7 PM Free

May 22 1:30 PM "So you think you know Manchester" fund raiser bus tour of Manchester(see details as a separate listing) Save the date.

June 15 7PM Michael Powers will speak on the history of the Shaw Insurance Company in Manchester. Shaw's is one of the long time local organizstions serving Manchester. Free. First Congregational Church.

July 20 6:30 PM The annual popular MHS neighborhood walk this year will explore the Richville section of Manchester. Learn about the Rich Lumber company's use of the neighborhood. Meet at 81 Cass Terrace for parking. Free.

August 11 Manchester Historical Society dedication with Town of the new marker in Factory Point Town Green as part of the 250th celebration of Manchester's chartering in 1761 by Benning Wentworth. The town ceremonies, of which the multi-color marker is a part, will start at the Factory Point Town Green at 12 PM

August 17 Annual Members Picnic. The picnic will be at Hildene. The Woods Tea Company concert starts at 6:00PM so the MHS picnic will begin at 5:30PM which will allow time to eat and go to the concert. Hildene will charge the donation of $5 which includes the concert. The exact location will be indicated at the welcome center. Become a member and join the fun. Questions? call Dick at 362-4314

September 21: 7PM MHS annual meeting to elect the Board for the upcming year and changes in MHS bylaws. The annual meeting portion is usually only about 10 minutes. The program to follow is the reknown Vermont artist/author Peter Miller. More details to follow but any questions contact Dick Smith at 362-4314.
Free everyone welcome at First Congregational Church

October 19 7:00PM Seth Bongartz Executive Director of Hildene will speak on the past and future of Hildene and its role in Manchester. First Congrgational Church. Free Everyone welcome.

November 16 7PM Ted Bird of the Bennington Historical Society will speak on the Ku Klux Klan in Vermont. It will be a PowerPoint presentation. Free. Everyone welcome at First Congrgational Church.

(Details will provided as available on special MHS projects that will support Manchesters celebration of its 250th year of chartering by Benning Wentworth. These activities include: Special exhibit at SVAC; the publication of the Arcadia book "Manchester".

Holiday Concert December 15, 2010

The Manchester Historical Society is sponsoring a free holiday concert on Wednesday December 15 at the First Congregational Church at 7 PM. The concert will be presented by the Tall Spire Ringers, the resident hand bell choir of the First Congregational Church directed by Lynne Welsh. A variety of Christmas music will be played on handbells and choirchimes. The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. For further information please call Bob or Sally Treat at 362-2523.

New Officers and Directors of Manchester Historical Society

At the September 2010 Annual Meeting the following officers were elected: Dick Smith, President; Bill Badger, Vice President(Acting); Pat Dupree, Treasurer; Sally Treat, Secretary(Acting; Judy Harwood, Curator. The Directors electer were Ted Hopkins, Larry Lee, Bill Lewis, Kim Rizio, Sally Treat, Bob Treat, Terry Tyler and Marge Wilbur. It is the intent over the coming months to profile these Board members.

MHS is planning on supporting the town plans for the 2011 celebration of the 250th year of of the Chartering of Manchester. These plans and projects will be announced over the next coming weeks and months. If anyone has an interest in volunteering or joining MHS please contact Judy Harwood at 362-3708.

Peter Henry: living at Burr and Burton plus Robert Frost

On November 17 Peter Henry will speak at 7PM at the First Congregational Church about his childhood years living in the headmasters house at Burr and Burton. He will also share anecodotes and bring memorabilia from his familys friend the noted Vermont poet Robert Frost. For more information please contact Bob or Sally Treat at 362-2523. The program is free and open to the public.

Slate Valley Museum Director April 21

HEAVY LIFTING: A Human and Technological History of Moving Slate from Quarry to Market, 1850-Present will be presented by Mary Lou Willits, executive director of the Slate Valley Museum on April 21 at Long Trail School Kiva, 7:30 pm. This is a joint program with the Dorset Historical Society.

MHS Presents Bird Migration Patterns and Effects on Vermont March 17

The Manchester Historical Society is pleased to present Randy Schmidt, owner of the Vermont Bird Place in Manchester, on Wednesday, March 17. Schmidt will present a program on the changes in bird migration patterns and what those shifts have meant for Vermont. He'll discuss specific birds Vermonters used to see regularly, but no longer do-and why.

The Vermont Bird Place has a mission of helping people enjoy the wild birds that visit their backyard, providing them with the tools to enjoy wild birds wherever they find them. The shop's products include bird feeders of myriad varieties and bird feed. The Vermont Bird Place also sponsors regular bird walks and species counts.

The MHS meeting will take place at the First Congregational Church in Manchester Village at 7 pm. The meeting is free and open to the public. The site is handicapped accessible. Refreshments will be served. All are welcome.

American Museum of Fly Fishing Program

The Manchester Historical Society invites you to join us at the American Museum of Fly Fishing (just south of Orvis on Route 7A) on Wednesday, February 17, 2010, at 7 pm for a
program on the fascinating history of the sport of fly fishing.

Ivan Beattie To Speak on the History of the Morgan Horse January 20

The Manchester Historical Society will present a talk by Ivan Beattie on the history of the Morgan horse on January 20, at 7pm, at the First Congregational Church. Beattie is manager of East of Equinox Farm in Manchester, which has been dedicated since 1958 to the preservation of the traditional Morgan horse.

The Morgan tradition began when Justin Morgan brought a young stallion named Figure to Vermont in the late 1700s. The horse quickly gained a reputation for being able to out-pull, out-trot, out-run and basically out-perform all the other horses of his time, regardless of their size or pedigree. His direct descendants were referred to as the “Morgan” horse, and they quickly became highly sought after because of their inherent ability to do anything and do it well.

Refreshments will be served. For more information e-mail manchesterhistoricalsociety@gmail.com.